Vinyl Fencing & Flexibility
Did you know?
Vinyl fencing is designed to prioritize flexibility, adhering to the principle of "bend without breaking." This flexibility allows the fence to withstand high winds with minimal permanent damage. Proper installation is crucial to maintaining this characteristic. If posts are installed too closely together, the panels will fit too tightly, resulting in a rigid fence that is more susceptible to damage from high winds or errant objects.
A distinctive feature of vinyl fencing is its ability to pop apart under extreme stress, similar to how Legos separate, rather than cracking, breaking, or splitting like wood fences. This design facilitates easy reassembly using existing, undamaged materials in most cases. To avoid issues, it is important to space the posts the full width of a panel apart and avoid cutting panels to smaller sizes whenever possible.
Additionally, vinyl fencing, like wood, expands and contracts. Vinyl expands in hot weather, while wood swells when exposed to moisture. If panels are fitted too tightly between posts, there will be no room for this expansion, leading to warping or buckling. Ensuring each panel has a few millimeters of wiggle room during installation can prevent such problems.
Outdoor PVC/vinyl products are engineered to have some "give," which adds strength, resilience, and prevents brittleness. The fence should exhibit movement and deflection in the wind to maintain its durability and functionality.
